Stanley Fish

Advantages: Fairly easy to read, as literary theory goes.
Disadvantages: Pointless and overlong.

...a wrestling match for its literary significance, for example. We are free to take whatever we want from culture, and hence the author is powerless, as there is no way that he or she can foresee the effect their words will have. Instead, the reader is in charge (structuralism), or no-one is in charge (post-structuralism), the text simply exists. Both these approaches negate any need to consider the history surrounding a book, the biography of the author, or what he or she was trying to say. They simply delight in the play of words and the possibilities that exist. Both of these approaches are original and valid attempts to understand culture. Fruitful argument can be had on one side or the other. However, Fish's theory comes into neither category. In the middle is Stanley Fish. His theory of "interpretive communities" states there are many... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: easy to read
Disadvantages: to long

...a wrestling match for its literary significance, for example. We are free to take whatever we want from culture, and hence the author is powerless, as there is no way that he or she can foresee the effect their words will have. Instead, the reader is in charge (structuralism), or no-one is in charge (post-structuralism), the text simply exists. Both these approaches negate any need to consider the history surrounding a book, the biography of the author, or what he or she was trying to say. They simply delight in the play of words and the possibilities that exist. Both of these approaches are original and valid attempts to understand culture. Fruitful argument can be had on one side or the other. However, Fish's theory comes into neither category. In the middle is Stanley Fish. His theory of "interpretive communities" states there are many... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...A Streetcar Named Desire : How does violence progress throughout the play and change the course of action? In what ways did Williams’ use of violence contribute to the controversy of the play? Williams’ work is often considered as “one of the most savage indictments of culture in our time”(i) and A Streetcar Named Desire is no exception. The play challenged the taboo issues of violence, homosexuality and promiscuity whilst the 1951 film adaptation caused great controversy despite censorship carried out by the Motion Picture Association of America and the Catholic Legion of Decency. Since it is Stanley’s rape of Blanche that leads to her inevitable demise, it is important to consider the significance that Williams’ use of violence bears to the play as a whole. This central topic of violence is initially revealed... Read review

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